Electrical switch.



W. S. MAYER.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH. urmoulon'rnnn IAILQZ, 1905.

PATENTED MAY 1, 1906.

3 SHEETS-451111111 1.

No. 819,360. PATENTED MAY 1 1906. W, S. MAYER.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAB.22, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 819,360. PATBNTBD MAY 1, 1906.

W. s. MAYER.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.22, 1905.

3 SHBETS-SHEET-3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

WALTER is. MAY R, OF -PH LADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNUR TO A. EDWARD NEWTON, OF DAYLESFORD, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WIL- LIAM M. soorr, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SWITCH- Specification of LettersPatent. Application filed March 22, 1906. Serial No. 251,416.

.Eatented May 1, 1906.

' To all whom jnmdy concern: I 7,

Be it known that I, WALTER S. MAYER, a

citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and Stateof Pennsylvania, have invented a new and. useful Electrical Switch, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical switches, more especially to those of the automatic type, for'use in connection with either direct or al ternating current circuits of either low or higlT potential. 1

It is. the object of my invention to provide an electrical switch which shall be simple in construction, of great current-carrying capacity, and capable of preventing an operator fromfully closing the switch or holding it closed during the existence or continuance of predetermined electrical conditions in a circuit.

By the employment of a circuit-breaker which cannot be closed by the operator durmg the existence or continuance of predetermined electrical conditions the usual simple mechanical switch heretofore used in connection with each automatic. circuit-breaker upon a, switchboard may be dispensed with.

.sponding with ,the closed position of the,

switch or circuit-breaker.

=Referring to the drawings, 1 is a' suitable base of insulating material, such as a switchboard, upon which are secured the main terminal blocks 2 and 3, having their contactfaces parallel with the base and in a vertical plane. A laminated bridging member 4 is adapted to engage and bridge the main contact -.terminals 2 and 3. The bridging member 4 is secured to :and insulated from the arm '5, ada ted to swing in a vertical plane toward an 'from the base about the pivot 6 in the frame 7, secured upon the base 1.

8 is a metallic shunt-contact, consisting of a conducting-spring adapted to engage the upper main contact-terminal 2 and to se a rate from such contact-terminal shortly a ter the laminated bridging member 4 separates from it. The member 8 extends downwardly and engages the contact piece 9, secured upon the under side of the terminal block 3. Secured upon and insulated from the arm 5 is the vertically-extending resilient conducting member 10 in electrical communication with member 8 and carrying at its upper end the movable shunt-carbon 1 1, rigidly secured. The stationary shunt-carbon is shown at 12 is in turn secured upon the top of the main contact-terminal 2. In the circuit-closing position the carbons 11 and 12 overlap each other considerably, and when the circuitbreakeropens the carbon 11 slides upon and separates from the carbon 12, the final separation being at an instant of time later than the separatlon of the metallic shunt-contact 8 from the terminal block 2. During the opening movement of the switch the a nated bridgin member 4 breaks contact. Then the meta lic shunt-contact 8 and finally the carbon 11 separate from the carbon 12. In closing the switch the carbon 1 1 strikes the carbon 12 and rides up and slides upon it, due to the member 10 yielding in a lateral direc tion, as viewed in Fig. 2..

Pivoted to the arm 5 at 14 is a tog le-lin 15', pivoted at its outer end at 16 to t I e toggleink 17, which is pivoted at 18 to the actuator or operating-lever 19. The actuator gle-link 17 extends beyond its pivot 18 and carries at its lower end the roller 21 rotatable upon the pivot 22, mounted in said piece 17.

23 is a slot in the member 17 embracing the pivot 20, enabling the member 17 to move through a considerable angle with respect to the actuator 19. A sprin 24 is connected at its one end to the mem er 17 and -at its other end to the actuator 19 and with the parts in the circuit-closing position, as shown Figs. 1 and 4, is under tension. A suitable liandle 25 is secured to the actuator 19 A latch 26 is pivoted at 27 upon the actuator 19. spring 28 urges the latch 26 19 is pivoted at 20 in the frame 7. The tog- 'sition, the-pivot 16 has passed beyon against. the adjustable screw 29, threaded through the Web of the actuator 19 and locked by the nut 31.

32 is an ear on the actuator 19, by which the actuator engages the under side of the frame 7, as shown in Fig. 1. This ear 32 limits the downward motion of the actuator 19. Pivoted at 33in the frame 7 is the latch-actuat mg lever 34, having the tail 35 extendin into the path of travel of the lever 36, pivoted to the base at 37.

38 is a lever secured to and rotatable with the lever 36 about the axis 37 The lever 38 extends into the ath of travel of the head 39 of the core 40 of the solenoid-coil 41. The core 40 and the solenoid-coil 41 constitute an overload tripping-magnet, as well understood 1n this art. One terminal of winding 41 is electrically connected with stud 41, and the other terminal is electrically connected with terminal block 2. Terminal block 3 is electrically connected with stud 3. Studs 3 and 41 constitute the terminals of the circuit-breaker. The adjustin -screw 42 determines the vertical position 0 thecore 40, and therefore the current value at which the circuit-breaker will be opened. r

43 is a button or knob secured to the head 39, so that the core 40 may be lifted manually to trip the circuit-breaker.

44 and 45 are plates of insulating material for housin the solenoid-coil 41.

46 1s a ar of iron or other magnetizable material forming art of the magnetic circuit of the'solenoid-coil 41. I

A buffer 17, of rubber of other suitable mater1al,l1mits the opening movement of link 17.

The operation is as follows? When the circult-breaker or switch is in open-circuit position, the o crating parts are in the osition shown in ig. 3. To close the switc or circult-breaker, the operator grasps the handle 25 and raises the actuator 19, thus rotatin it in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewe in F1g. 3) about its pivot 20 in the frame 7. During tlus motion the toggle-link 17 will, in effect, rotate on its pivot 18 on the actuator 19 lira clockwise direction and the latch 26 w1ll ride over and engage the roller 21 in the outer end of the link 17. positivelyconnected. with the actuator 19 and upon depressing such actuator the toggle '15 17 1s straightened out, thusrotating the arm 5 upon its pivot 6 and bringin the blldgll member 4 into engagement wit the terrmna blocks 2 and 3. As thearts approach full circuit-closing positiont e ivots 14, 1 6, and 18 come more and more close y into the same Imaginary straight line.

ots 14 an 18 when full circuit-closin posltion 1S reached. To reach full circuit-c osin ,po-

the imaginary straight line joining the centers of pivots 14 and 20. Thus considering the link The link 17 is then" 0 The pivot 1 6 falls slightly short of the line joining the piv 15 with the actuator 19, having the link 17 secured thereto by latch 26, as a toggle, it has slightly overtraveled to reach circuit-closing position and thus locks the laminated memer 4 in engagement with the contact-terminals 2 and 3. When this full circuit-closing position has been reached, the ear 32 rests against the under side of the frame 7 and prevents the toggle 15 17 from collapsing upwardly. When the current flowing through the solenoid 41 attains a predetermined value, the core 40 is drawn forcibly upward and the head 39 strikes the under side of the lever 38, thus raising the lever 36 and striking upon the under side of the tail 35 of the lever 34. Lever 34 accordingly rotates in a clockwise direction about its pivot 33 and strikes upon the up er side of the tail 26" of the latch 26, thus re easing the lever 17 from the actuator 19. Since the lever 17 is now' free from the actuator 19 and since the pivotpin 16 falls slightly short of the straight line oining the centers of pivots 14 and 18, the .toggle 15 17 collapses, due to the tension of s ring 24, the resiliency of the laminated bri ging member 4, and gravity, and the parts fly to o en-circuit position, as shown in Fig. 3. If uring the closing movement above described an abnormal or predetermined circuit condition obtains, upon the initial closure of the circuit, either at the carbons 1 1 and 12 or at the metallic contact parts, the solenoid-core 40 will be drawn up and the latch 26 operated to release the lever' 17 from the actuator 19. Thereby the toggle 15 17, which has been extended, will collapse and the circuit-breaker open, while the operator still holds the handle 25. If the parts are in circuitclosing position'and it is desired to trip or open the circuit-breaker, it is simplynecessary to slightl raise the actuator 19, whereupon the mem er 47, pivoted to it at 48,

rides upon the surface-34 of the lever'34, de-' pressing the lever and causing it to operate the latch 26, as hGI'Bt-OfOTGdBSOIlbBd. The pin 49, secured to the actuator 19, revents the rotation of the member 47 as it ri es upon the surface 34. During the closing move ment the member 47 is permitted to rotate about its pivot 48 and rides freely-over the lever 34 Without actuating it.

From the fore oing description it is seen that the tog le contact mem er-4 is underset or undertraveled when the link 17 is free to rotate about the pivot 18 but is oversetor overtraveled when the link 11 is locked by latch 26 a; the actuator 19s In effect, therefore, one link of the movable contact-operating to gle is rotatable about either of twopivots, depending whether-such link is locked to the actuator or free from the actuator, the disposition of the or operating the movable pivots beingsuch that when free to rotate nections between said toggle and said actuatravel when said'link is locke .tact member,

tor whereby said toggle may overtravel when ogprated by said actuator and is underset w on unlocked from said actuator.

2. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said contact member, an actuator, a link of said toggle pivoted upon said actuator, and a latchor connecting said toggle-link with said actuator. I v

3.111 an electrical switch, a movable contact member, 3 a toggle foroperating said member, an actuator, a link of said toggle pivoted to said-actuator, a. latch for connectmg said link with said actuator, said toggle being ada ted to overtravel to lock said contact mem er. in normal position when said link is latched to said actuator, andelectroresponsive means for actuating said latch to release said link from said actuator and permit said tog 1e to collapse. I

4. In an e ectrical switch, amovable contact member, a toggle for operating said contact member, a pivoted actuator, a link of said toggle pivoted to said actuator at a distance from the pivot of said actuator, and a latch for connecting said toggle-linkwith said actuator.

5. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said con- .tact member, an actuator rotatable u on a pivot, a link of said to gle pivoted to sa1d actuator at a distance om said ivot, and a latch for connecting said togg e-link with said actuator, whereby said toggle slightly ,overtravels to move said contact member to normal osition, and is slightly-undertraveled when sa1d link is free from said actuator.

6. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said contact member, an actuator rotatable upon a pivot, a link of said to gle pivoted to sa1d actuator at a distance om said pivot, and a latch for connecting said actuator with said toggle-link, whereby said tog le may overto said actuator, and is undrtraveled when said link is unlocked from said actuator.

. 7. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said conan actuator, a locking connection between said toggle and said actuator whereby said toggle may overtravel when operated b said actuator and is underset when unlocke from said actuator, and electrore-- sponsive means for breaking said connection upon attempted operation of theswitch during the continuance or existence of predetermined electrical conditions.

, 8. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said contact member, an actuator, a link of said toggle pivoted upon said actuator, a latch, for connecting sa1d ftoggle-link with said actuator, and electroresponsive means for controlling said latch upon attempted operation of said actuator durlng the exlstence or continuance of predetermined electrical conditions. 4

9. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said contact member, an actuator, a locking connection between said toggle and said actuator wherebg said toggle may overtravel when operated 3 said actuator and is underset when unlocke from said actuator, and means for limiting the overtravel of said toggle.

10. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said contact member, an actuator, a link of said toggle pivoted upon said actuator, a latch for connecting sa1d toggle-link with said actuator, and means for actuating said latch upon reversed movement of said actuator.

1 1. In an. electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle for operating said consaid toggle beingovertraveled when said link and actuator are connected together and when said contact member is in normal position, and underset when said link is disconnected from said actuator. 1

- 12. .In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle-link pivoted to said member, a second hnk pivoted to said firstmentioned link, said second link having a plurality of pivotal supports about which it may rotate, and means for shifting said link from one of said pivotal sugpcrts to another.

13. In an electrical switc a movable'contact member, a toggle-link pivoted thereto, a

second toggle-link pivoted to said first-mentioned link, a plurality of pivotal supports about which said second link may rotate, and electroresponsive means for shifting said link from one pivot to another.

14. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, a toggle-link pivoted thereto, a second toggle-link pivoted to said first-mentioned link, a plurality of pivotal su ports about which said link may rotate, and electroresponsive means for shifting said second link from one pivotal support to another upon attempting to move said contact member to normal position during the existence or continuance of tions.

15. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, means for operating said contact member Comprising an actuator and a lever pivoted upon said actuator, said lever intervening between said actuator and said contact member, and a latch for connecting said actuator and said lever together, whereby said contact member may be moved to and locked in normal osition and is unlocked when said connection is broken.

16. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, means for operating said con tact member comprising an actuator and a member pivoted upon said actuator, said member intervening between said actuator and said movable contact member, and means for connecting said member and actuator together to cause them to operate as a unit, whereby said movable contact member may be moved to and lockedin normal position and is unlocked when said connection is broken. 7 a

17 In an electrical switch, amovable contact member, means for operating said contact member comprising an actuator and a member pivoted upon said 4 actuator, said member intervening between said actuator and said movable contact member, means for connecting said actuator and said member together to cause them to operate as a unit, and means for breaking said connection upon reversed movement of said actuator.

18. In an electrical switch, a movable resilient contact member, a toggle for cramping said contact member in normal osition, an actuator, a link of said toggle pivoted upon said actuator, and a latch for locking said toggle-link and actuator together, whereby sal toggle may overtravel to lock the con tact member in normal position and is under set when unlocked from said actuator.

19. In an electrical switch, a movable contact member, an actuator, a powermultiply= ing device intervening between said actuator and said contact member and having a member iv'oted to said actuator, a connection for locking said actuator and said ivoted mem ber together, and means for breaking said connection Whereb said contact member may move independently of said actuator.

20. In an electrical switch, a movable contact rrember, a toggle-link mechanically con nected with said contact member, a second toggle-link pivoted to said first-mentioned link, a plurality of pointsofsup'p'o'rt aboutwhich said second link may rotate, an actuator, and a latch for locking said actuator and said second toggle-link together. WALTER SrMAYER.

Witnesses:

BERTHA C STEIN, EDITH BAHN. 

